The Gospel account known as the Widow's Offering teaches that good is worth its cost.

Jesus was sitting in front of the treasury watching how people would cast their alms, asking for blessings, as their custom.

Some wealthy people would give away lots of money.

But a poor widow offered two small coins, ten cents worth each.

Jesus immediately told his disciples she had put in more than anyone else.

After all, she had given something she would miss, while the wealthy people had given what they had in excess.

Some people wish they were rich so they could do good in a large scale.

They even expect Divine assistance for ambitious projects, in the name of the noble objectives they aspire.

However, if they were honest to themselves, they would admit that their actual intention would be, above all, living in luxury.

Undoubtedly, if they got rich, they would practice material charity, perhaps a lot of it.

But first they would indulge their fantasies, buying beautiful and expensive things for themselves.

The Gospel account stresses that doing the greater good does not require great material wealth.

Harmony and happiness, which are brought by abiding the cosmic law, are possible in any economic circumstance.

All you have to do is what is within your own grasp.

Value does not lie on rich offerings.

Merit is proportional to the sacrifice entailed by the act.

The harder it is, the more merit and repercussion before the Cosmic Consciousness an action has.

No doubt the ideal attitude would be doing good without any concern for eventual benefits for oneself.

In this sense Jesus said that your left hand should not know what the right one does.

That means that noble acts should not be publicized nor shrouded in careful analysis of their reflections.

Still, no one becomes sublime in the blink of an eye.

The right thing is to do good for a natural impulse of the heart and feel joy for it.

But while we do not achieve that ideal state, good must be practiced as possible.

We should get used to serving our neighbor, even if only as a means for our own character-building.

Spiritism teaches that a Spirit's happiness is proportional to its stock of virtues.

It also states that the most sublime about virtue is the sacrifice of personal interest for the good of a neighbor, with no second intention.

This conclusion is in total harmony with the lesson taught by the Widow's Offering.

Only a kind-hearted Spirit is able to sacrifice himself for the benefit of another, expecting nothing in return.

Donations that demand little sacrifice are within everybody's grasp.

Giving away leftovers, even though desirable, is hardly difficult.

However, making sacrifices for an ideal or for another human being implies considerable spiritual maturity.

Selfless, costly actions indicate an understanding of the laws of fraternity that rule life.

To be generous to the last consequences, one must understand the higher reasons of existing.

Ultimate virtue resounds in the cosmic order and conveys ultimate happiness.

Since it is not a gift, but something to be conquered, it must be developed.

So, make an effort to do as much good as you can.

Someday, due to your effort, you'll be sublime.

And then the doors to worlds of peace and bliss will be open for you.

Think about it.

Spiritist Moment Team.
February 26.2010.